Marin Headlands Coastal Trail 3-beach Hike

Three Beaches to the Wind

Hike to three beaches on this coastal trail in the Marin Headlands

08.11.2021
Woman hiking the Coastal Trail in the Marin Headlands

What’s your favorite comfort food? Fried chicken, mac ’n cheese, mom’s three-bean chili. … This 7-mile (round-trip) beach-to-beach-to-beach (!) hike in the Marin Headlands is like enjoying a favorite comfort food: it’s almost always good, it feels familiar, and it just warms up the soul … well, at least the thighs. Enjoy a highly panoramic section of the Coastal Trail and three beaches along the way. Fair warning, this hike is beautiful, and strenuous in parts, but those views—coastal comfort all the way!

Woman hiking up the Coastal Trail next to the ocean in the Marin Headlands

Woman sitting on a rock on the Coastal Trail and looking down below to Muir Beach in the Marin Headlands

Pirates Cove Beach in the Marin Headlands

The hike connects three beaches in the Marin Headlands: Muir Beach, Pirates Cove, and Tennessee Cove. It’s 3.5 miles (one-way) from Muir Beach to Tennessee Cove, but you can turn around whenever you like to shorten it. Things start off gentle enough as most people make their way to relax at Muir Beach. But your sights are set on the Coastal Trail and climbing the hill to the south. Take your time and look behind you—the views grow as you go.

Woman hiking along the Coastal Trail in the Marin Headlands

Woman hiking down the Coastal Trail in the Marin Headlands

Woman descending dirt steps on the Coastal Trail in the Marin Headlands

Once you reach the top of the climb, keep hiking and enjoy swoop-de-doo views of the rugged Marin coastline and tiny Pirates Cove as you work your away along the ridgeline and gently up and down a few sections. When you come to the detour trail for Pirates Cove, you can assess your stamina and decide if you want to shorten the journey. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that! But for those wanting the full three-beach experience, keep going up for a steep half-mile ascent to Coyote Ridge, followed by a welcome descent to Tennessee Valley and Tennessee Cove. This classic Marin hike-in beach is always a hit, with its crashing waves and black sand beach. It’s also your turnaround point.

Woman on Tennessee Cove beach in the Marin Headlands

And … back up you go! Then down again. We recommend going to Pirates Cove on the return journey if you’re going all the way to Tennessee Cove. This ensures you know your timeframe and how much daylight is left (in summer, you are very likely to have enough daylight left). Bring a lunch or snacks to enjoy at the cove. And bring good treads! The trail down to Pirates Cove is short, but steep in a few sections, with loose dirt. Take your time. Pirates Cove is a crescent-shaped haven with a hulking and holed rock formation and plenty of driftwood benches made by previous visitors. Important: Mind the tides! Some of the “home-made” benches are closer to the water and waves can come up quickly … keep an eye on the ocean and waves.

Woman standing at the top of Coyote Ridge and looking out to the Pacific ocean on the Coastal Trail in the Marin Headlands

Sign pointing the way to Pirates Cove beach in the Marin Headlands

hikers on the Coastal Trail to Pirates Cove in Marin Headlands

Relax before climbing out and hiking back to Muir Beach. Late afternoons in summer offer beautiful light for the return trip, and you can always grab a seat in the sand at Muir Beach to watch the sunset. Summer comforts.

Woman sitting on driftwood and looking out to the ocean at Pirates Cove hike-in beach in the Marin Headlands

Woman resting on a rock overlooking the Pacific ocean on the Coastal Trail in the Marin Headlands

people relaxing at Muir Beach in Marin

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: In Episode 37 "Chicken Soup for the Hiker's Soul" Weekend Sherpa co-founders Brad and Holly talk about highlights of their hike on the Coastal Trail in the Marin Headlands. Between Tennessee Beach, Muir Beach, and Pirate's Cove, which is their favorite? Listen to find out!

Start at the Muir Beach parking lot. Cross the bridge, go left, and continue up the Coastal Trail. Follow signs for Pirates Cove, which is reached in about 1.5 miles. Continue up to Coyote Ridge and descend to Tennessee Cove. Return the way you came, and we recommend you detour to Pirates Cove on the return trip, if you have time. Watch for tides in Pirates Cove! Some waves can surprise so keep an eye on the water. You can also check tide charts and forecasts before embarking on the hike. Wear good treads for this hike. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View